A 3-minute lesson from the Nevada course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Choosing the right seat and putting it in the right place matters as much as buckling up. An airbag that protects an adult can badly hurt a small child sitting too close to it.
Before traveling with children, ask yourself:
Is the child restraint approved by the U.S. DOT under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards?
Is the seat right for the child's size and weight?
Is it installed securely, per the manufacturer's instructions or another NHTSA-approved way?
Always buckle infants facing the rear. Children under 2 ride in a rear-facing seat in the back seat, which supports the baby's head and protects the neck and spine in most crashes.
The back seat is generally the safest place. If an older child must ride in front, move the vehicle seat back as far as possible and use a full-harness restraint or a properly fitted lap/shoulder belt.
Never leave a child 7 or younger unattended in a vehicle when conditions pose a significant risk to the child's health and safety, unless someone at least 12 years old is supervising and within sight (NRS 202.485).
It's illegal to leave a dog or cat unattended in a vehicle during extreme heat or cold. Police, firefighters and other officials may use reasonable force to rescue it (NRS 202.487).
It's 105°F and your 5-year-old has fallen asleep in the car while you run into a store. Leaving her is illegal unless someone at least 12 years old stays with her and keeps her in sight.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
A child aged 7 or younger left in a vehicle must be supervised by and within sight of a person at least how old?
10 years old
14 years old
16 years old
12 years old
Answer: 12 years old
A child 7 or younger may be left if supervised by and within sight of a person at least 12 years old.